Team India is gearing up to host England in a much-anticipated white-ball series, set to begin with a thrilling T20I encounter on Wednesday, January 22, at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. Ahead of the series, the squad for the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy was announced, with one of the key highlights being the return of Mohammed Shami.
The fiery pacer, sidelined due to injury, is set to make his comeback after over a year away from international cricket. Mohammed Shami last represented India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final but has since missed significant action in 2024, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, due to an ankle injury.
Now, at 34, Shami has resumed full training, raising hopes of a successful return. The Bengal pacer was recently spotted at the Eden Gardens, participating in an intense training session under the watchful eyes of India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel. Starting with warmup deliveries and two-step bowling, Shami gradually shifted to full-intensity spells on the practice pitches.
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By the end of the session, he was bowling at full tilt, displaying rhythm and fitness. Though he sported a strap on his left knee, his performance in the nets offered promising signs for the team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of Shami’s training on their social media platform, ‘X,’ showcasing his determination and preparation.
He’s BACK 💪🏻
Team India 🇮🇳
Mohd. Shami 😎
Eden Gardens 🏟️Just perfect 👌🏻#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @MdShami11 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/PwCuEOcaDA
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 20, 2025
In the upcoming T20I series, Shami is expected to lead India’s pace attack alongside promising talents Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. During his first training session back, Shami bowled to openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, further emphasizing his readiness to return to competitive cricket.
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In addition to his bowling, Shami participated in fielding drills led by coach T. Dilip, practicing long-range and short-range throws. Other team members, including Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Dhruv Jurel, focused on power-hitting in the nets. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh faced the spin trio of Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakravarthy, gearing up for the series.
As India prepares for their first home series of the year, the return of Mohammed Shami adds firepower and experience to their bowling lineup, setting the stage for an exciting contest against England.
